Manhunt after ex-cop goes on killing spree

Friday, February 08, 2013

By Tami Abdollah

Thousands of police officers throughout Southern California and neighbouring states were last night hunting for a disgruntled former Los Angeles officer, wanted for a deadly shooting rampage that he warned in an online posting would target those on the force who wronged him.

Police issued a statewide “officer safety warning” and police were sent to protect people named in the posting that was believed to be written by the fired officer, Christopher Dorner, who has military training. Among those mentioned were members of the Los Angeles Police Department.

“I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty,” said the manifesto. It also asserted: “Unfortunately, I will not be alive to see my name cleared. That’s what this is about, my name. A man is nothing without his name.”

Dorner has available multiple weapons including an assault rifle, said police Chief Charlie Beck, who urged Dorner to surrender. “Nobody else needs to die,” he said.

More than 40 protection details were assigned to possible targets of Dorner. Police spokesman Cmdr. Andrew Smith said he couldn’t remember a larger manhunt by the department.

The hunt spread from California to Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, said a US Marshals Service official.

The search for Dorner, who was fired from the LAPD in 2008 for making false statements, began after he was linked to a weekend killing in which one of the victims was the daughter of a former police captain who had represented him during the disciplinary hearing. Authorities believe Dorner opened fire early yesterday on police in cities east of Los Angeles, killing an officer and wounding another.

Beck detailed Dorner’s alleged crimes in an unusual press conference in an underground room at police headquarters. The chief said there had been a “night of extreme tragedy in the Los Angeles area” and all measures were being implemented to ensure officer safety.

Police said Dorner, 33, implicated himself in the couple’s killings with the multi-page “manifesto”. A Facebook post believed to be written by Dorner said he knew he would be vilified by the LAPD and the media, but that “unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name”.

As police searched for him, the packed Los Angeles area was on edge.

In San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma was locked down after a Navy worker reported seeing someone who resembled Dorner.

Navy Cmdr Brad Fagan said Dorner was honourably discharged and his last day in the Navy was last Friday.

The hunt for Dorner led to two errant shootings in the pre-dawn darkness yesterday, believed to be cases of mistaken identity.

Picture: Christopher Dorner warned in an online posting that he would target those on the police force who wronged him